ALL Pedlers and petty Chapmen , wandring abroad , 39 Eliz. Ch. 4. are adjudged Rogues and Vagabonds , with a Proviso for Glass-Men , licensed to travel in the Countries only .

Whereas in the Statute of 39. 1 Jacob. Ch. 7. Eliz. There was a Proviso , That the said Statute should not extend to such Glass , Men as were of good behaviour , and should travel through any County without begging , having License from three Justices of the said County where they travel . Said Proviso repealed , and Glass-men made Rogues . By reason of which Liberty , many notorious Rogues and Vagabonds , and evil disposed Persons have undertaken , and do profess the Trade of Glass-Men , and by colour thereof , do travel up and down divers Counties of this Realm , and do commit many Pickeries , petty Felonies , and other Misdemeanors . For the avoiding of which inconveniency , Be it Enacted , &c. That all such Persons that shall wander up and down to sell Glasses , shall be adjudged , deemed , and taken as Rogues and Vagabonds , and shall suffer the like pain and punishment in every degree , as by the same 39 of Eliz. is appointed , and is further provided in this Statute .

In the Act for the Poor ,

14 Car. 2. Ch. 2. The 39 Eliz. and 1 Jacob. reinforc'd ; But the Reward made so small , have never been executed .

His M●jesties order in the Glass-sellers Charter .

To suppress Hawkers of Glasses , &c. within the limits of their Corporation .

In their By-Laws signed by the Judges .

Our further Will and Pleasure is , and We do hereby straitly charge and command , That no Person or Persons whatsoever , which by the Statute made in the first year of the Reign of our late Royal Grandfather King James , or any other Law of this our Realm , are prohibited to carry Glasses or Earthen Wares to sell , do at any time hereafter presume to wander up and down to sell Glasses or Earthen Wares ; or to act , or do any thing contrary to these Statutes upon the pains and penalties therein declared , and such other punishment as can or may be inflicted upon such Offenders , according to the Laws of this Realm : And We will and straitly command , that the Masters and Wardens , &c. of the Company of Glass-Sellers of London , do from time to time take care , that at all times hereafter , The said Statutes be put in full execution upon all such Offenders , as shall presume to wander up and down to sell Glasses or Earthen Wares in our City of London , or within seven miles thereof . And his Majesty commands all Mayors , Bayliffs , Justices , Constables , and other Officers , to be aiding and assisting the said Company of Glass-Sellers therein .

It is Ordered , That every Member of the Corporation of Glass-Sellers , shall use his utmost care and endeavour to discover all such Persons as shall wander up and down to sell any Glasses or Earthen Wares , and as often as he shall discover any such , immediately to give notice thereof to the next Constable or other Officer , to the intent they may be punished according to the Statutes of 39 of Eliz. or the 1 of King James , or any other Statute of this Realm made to punish Pedlers , and Petty Chapmen &c. And every Member of this Company neglecting his duty herein , is to forfeit for every Offence five shillings .

Upon all which Laws and Orders , The Glass-sellers endeavours to suppress them . and in discharge of their duty therein , the said Company of Glass-Sellers have been at very great trouble and expence for many years , to suppress these wandring Glass-Men ; and although some have been whipt and imprisoned for their Offences , they still abound more than ever , they being a sturdy incorrigible sort of People , who regard not such corporal punishment .

Provided also , Proviso in the Patent granted for licensing of Pedlers and Petty Chapmen . That this our said Commission , nor any thing therein contained , shall not extend to impower our said Commissioners to give or grant License or Priviledg to any Person or Persons whatsoever , to travel or wander up and down to sell any sort of Glasses , or Earthen or Gally Ware , contrary to the Statute of the 39 of Eliz. or the 1 of King James , or of any other Laws or Statutes of this our Realm in that Case made and provided .

There is in and about London near an hundred Glass-Sellers , many of which , by reason of the Bulkiness of their Commodities , are constrained to exercise their Trades in houses of near 100 pound per Annum , and it is believed pay more Scot and Lot , and bear more publick Offices in one year , than all the Pedlers and Petty Chap-men in England do in seven ; who yet many of them are almost undone already , Reasons why these persons should be suppressed . by reason of the multitudes of these wandring Glass-Men all England over , who now go about , not only with Baskets and Crates , but also with Horses and Asses laden with all sorts of Glasses and Earthen Wares , which , if not timely restrained , the said Shop-keepers will be utterly disabled to pay their Rents , or maintain their Families , but must be constrained to leave their Shops , and betake themselves to the like practice of sending their Wares abroad .

There is no need of such people to wander abroad to supply the Countries with these Commodities ; Glasses and Earthen Wares being sold by Shop-keepers in all Market Towns , and almost in all Villages in England , and would be much more in Cities , Burroughs , Towns-Corporate , if these People were suppressed . Which Shop-keepers are forced , by reason of the Bulkiness and Brittlenss of these Wares , to take greater Houses , and pay greater Rents than otherwise they need to do , and pay all publick Taxes , and Parish Rates and Duties .

These Hawkers of Glasses and Earthen Wares do generally carry abroad , and cheat the Gentry and others with very imperfect and deceitful Wares , as with Earthen Wares not fully burnt , which will crack , and the white peel off , when wet and used , and Glasses not well nealed , but crackt and faulty , which defects are not easily discerned , unless by Persons of judgment in those commodities , and sell only such Ill-made Wares as Shop-keepers cannot put off .

They are grown so insolent , that they frequently offer their Wares to the Shop-keepers Customers at their Shop-doors ; nay , even in their houses , and will call their Customers out of their Shops , and sell them Ware before their faces , of which there can several Instances be given .

They very often corrupt Mens Servants where they come , and tempt them to steal their Masters Provisions to truck with them for such things as they have a mind to , or occasion for .

It will be in vain to prohibit the carrying abroad of Linnen Cloath , or other Wares , if these wandering Glass-Men are not suppressed ; for Glasses being a light Commodity , they will carry any other commodities covered in the Straw , in which Glasses and Earthen Wares are always packt .

It is therefore most Humbly prayed , on the behalf of all the Glass-Sellers in London , Westminster , Southwark , and all other Cities , Burroughs , Towns Corporate , and Market Towns , at least in England and Wales , that a Proviso may be added to the Bill now depending against Pedlers , To prohibit all Hawkers of Glasses or Earthen Wares from Travelling , or wandring , or going about in any City , Burrough , Town-Corporate , or Market-Town in England or Wales with Crates , Baskets , or otherwise , to sell , offer , or Barter any Glasses or Earthen Wares , upon pain of suffering the same penalties inflicted by the Act upon other Pedlers and petty Chapmen , to be recovered in like manner , and for the same uses , that other penalties Inflicted upon other Pedlers and petty Chapmen are to be recovered and imployed .